Christmas flowers and what they mean

You probably get a lot of Christmas flowers in your shop this time of the year, but are you ever curious about what they mean and represent? Some flowers symbolize cultures or feelings, you want to learn about your flowers? Picture this, sitting on the couch with a cup of hot tea, reading all about Christmas flowers, plants, greens, and their meanings. Enjoy!

Hypericum Berries

Hypericum berries are like the holiday gifts that keep on giving! First, they pop out as pretty flowers and then change into the lovely berries we love. Let's talk about what Hypericum Berries mean: The name Hypericum is coming from the Greek words “hyper” – meaning above and “eikon” – meaning picture, so it’s basically a fancy way of saying above a picture, because people used to hang these plants over pictures or windows. They come in different colors but white and red are still our favorites, they fit perfectly in the Christmas vibe. They make any bunch of flowers look more like the Holidays!

“The typical Christmas plants“

Poinsettia Plants

Poinsettias are the superstars of Christmas plants! They start out green, then work some Holiday magic to turn those stunning red, white, or pink colors we all love so much. The plants have a whole backstory, one I’d like you to tell:

It's that red leafy plant we all see during Christmas - Poinsettia. But it wasn't always a popular plant. It started off in a German magazine as a cool plant called Euphorbia pulcherrima. Then, a man named Joel Poinsett, the first U.S. Minister to Mexico, introduced the poinsettia to the United States in the 1820s. He was an amateur botanist and sent cuttings of the plant back to his home in South Carolina, where it began to gain popularity, he gave it to his friends as a gift, and they put it into flower shows. People loved it, and it became a hit at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Then came the Ecke family. They associated the plant with Christmas immediately. They sold it as the Christmas Star, and since then… it was everywhere. By the '50s, it was small enough to put on your window ledge and had become a worldwide Christmas fave.

Roses during Christmas

Red roses for Christmas are all about love and the fun of giving presents and hugs. They remind us of the excitement we feel when we get together with family and friends for the holidays, and that is what the holidays are all about, right? Being together with the ones you love. White roses are like the quiet and calm of a snowy night before Christmas, giving us the feeling of everything being fresh and full of hope for the New Year, they are perfect to fit in a white snowy bouquet. And green roses? They're not as common, but they stand for new beginnings and growing strong, just like pine trees that stay green all winter. So, when we see roses in our Christmas decorations, they're not just making things look pretty; they're a sign of all the great things Christmas brings lots of love, peace, good times, and new starts.

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)

This flower is a showstopper with it’s big pretty flowers, they add a pop of color and a statement to your bouquet or arrangement. The flower is star shaped and the flowers symbolizes three main things:

Beauty: Obviously, look how pretty they are!

Attention: It’s no surprise these flowers are so eye catching and get a lot of attention…

Pride: Victorians considered these blooms to be a symbol of vanity and pride

Did you know that waxed Amaryllis bulbs don’t need water to grow? Also available in our shop, in the cutest colors ;).

Wax flowers (Chamelaucium)

Wax flowers, with their delicate, star-like blooms and lovely smell, hold a special meaning during the Christmas season. They symbolize lasting success and endurance, probably because of their hardy nature and long-lasting blooms. Their star shape is often reminded of the night sky and can be associated with the Christmas star, adding to their festive look. We love them, and they add a sweet touch to any flower arrangement. A bit of origin information: Wax flowers come originally from the sunny Western Australia, where it's summer when we have Christmas! They're used to hot Christmases, but people loved them for winter times too, especially during the holidays. They're tough little flowers that keep on going, just like the happy and hopeful feeling we all love about Christmas.

Hello Helleborus

The Christmas rose, or Helleborus, is a tough little flower that grows in cold places in Europe and Asia. It's special because it blooms in winter when most other plants are asleep. Long ago, people who loved plants noticed it would pop up around the shortest day of the year, bringing some cheer to gardens that didn't have much else going on. People started linking this flower to Christmas because it would show up during the holiday times, just when everyone was getting together and wanting to make their homes look nice and bright. The Helleborus kind of promises that even when it's super cold and dark outside, nature can still surprise us with something beautiful. That's why it became a sign of hope and happiness for Christmas, reminding us of that light and warm days will come back again. Isn’t that a lovely thought behind this flower?

“Have a holly jolly Christmas“

Holly Jolly Plant (Ilex Opaca)

Holly, with its shiny green leaves and bright red berries, is one of those plants that screams 'Christmas' to everyone. It's a bush that grows without minding the cold, especially in places like North America and Europe. People noticed how tough holly is because the leaves stay green even when it's chilly and everything else is covered in snow.

Way back when, before there were Christmas lights and decorations, folks would bring holly inside their homes during wintertime because it was nice to look at and didn't drop like other plants. Its green leaves and red berries added a pop of color when the world outside was all white, dark, and gray. Because holly was so colorful and strong, even in the winter, it started to stand for good things during Christmas time. It reminds us that even though it's the coldest time of the year, there's still life and color out there.

Also, those red berries are like little pops of joy, kind of like the twinkle of Christmas lights, making holly a perfect plant to celebrate the season with. So, as you enjoy your cup of hot tea on the couch in your Hoek flowers mug, surrounded by the beauty of Christmas flowers, take a moment to appreciate the symbolism and history behind them. Share these stories with your loved ones and let the magic of Christmas flowers fill your hearts with warmth and joy!